Rescue tank



April 12, 1932. H. E. -GRIESHABER RESCUE TANK e sneets-she/t 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1950 Ha 0E.

April 12, 1932. H. E. GRIESHABER 1,853,898

RESCUE TANK Filed Aug. 28, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hyag @Jef/aber April 12,1932 H; E. GRIESHABER 1,853,898

` RESCUE TANK v(Filed Aug. 28, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 12, 1932. H. E. GRIESHABER 1,853,898

RESCUE TANK Filed Aug. 28, 1930 6 Sheets- Sheet 4 y I v 20e/afar l: l l l I l I www .I l l April 1'2, 1932.' I H.`E. GRIESI-Imaam# 1,853,898

RESCUE TANK 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 28, 1950 1 H27 YWMW/my April v12, 1932.

H. .E GRlr-:SHABER RESCUE TANK Filed Aug. 28, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 8MM f drum operating means; and

fio

invention;

Patented Apr. 121, 1932 amiral) STATE,S7Y

une@ n. eurnsunrnn, or NEW LoNnoN, coNNnoT1cUT, AssrGNon To ELEcTnIc nourri coVMrANY, orv enoToN, CONNECTICUT, A coRroReTIoN or NEW JERSEY,

' RESCUE TANK This invention relates `to devices `for fuse with disabled submarine boats, and more particularly to what I term a rescue tank.

1 It is known to `provide submarine. boats with access hatches through which theJ'pe-rsonnel can escape if the vboat i-s disabled and lies submerged `in comparatively shallow water. The escape of the personnel in,k this mans y ner is not possible, however, when the 'boat is' submerged in deep VWater where high pressures obtain. One of the main objects ofk my invention is to provide a rescue `device or tank Vhaving associated therewith means operablel Figure 1 is a sectional view through an ac.-

cess hatch trunk and associated parts of a submarine boat, illustrating 1a part .of my invention as applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the access hatch trunk and associated parts of a submarine boatk and arescue tank seated upon the main hatch cover, in accordance with my Figure 3 is a Figures 4 to 10, inclusive, rare semidiagramf maticviews illustrating the successive steps in the use of my invention inV edecting rescue of the personnel of a disabled' submarine boat.

In Figure 1 I have shown, ragmen-tarily, a submarine boat B having a hull' 1, superstructure 2, and an access hatch trunk 3 ergtending upwardly through the upper portion ofthe hull. The upper endA of trunk 3 is closed by a suitablecover 4 hing-ed at 5 and having associated therewith suitable? gear l(iV orV securing the cover tightly closed'. VA

. gasket is mounted inthe under side .or the cover 4 and seats upon the coaming at the upperend of trunk :3 to al1-ect' a Vwa-tertight closure therewith.. The cover locking'-g'ear i closed. Y f

detail, partly in section, of Y may be of any suitable construction and V,con-

Application led August 28, 1930. Serial No'. 478,323.

cludes a clevis member 8 into whichscrews Y the shank of an eye '9, the baseo this eyey bearing upon the upper facefof a manhole cover 10 which normally closes an opening 11 through the main cover' 4, this opening; constituting a manhole for vpassage therethrough of the` personnel or 'the' disabled-boat in the rescue operation. The shank of eye 9 passes through a hub 12 at-the center'Y of' manhole cover 10, and screws into clevis member 8*.- f this manner, the locking gear for the main cover 4 is normally secured in position and operatesin a known manner -tolock this cover Manhele. `cover-10is hinged to main cover i 4 "at 12EL 'and issecured in closed position by a hook bolt 13 passing through cover 10 and' engaging beneath vcover 4; 'nut 14 screws upon the upper end 'of bolt 13 and bears against a collar 15 of an 'indicating and locking member 16 through the collar 15 'of which the boltl slides, the bolt being connected to the collar in a knownfmannerso `as to prevent i relative turning' movement betweenv the bolt and the ool'l'ar. Normally, 'nut 14 is' turned tight onto the bolt so as to secure the manholek cover10in closed position. A gasket 17 is suitably mounted in main cover-""4 and co'aets withfthe cover 1Q to form a watertight` and pressure resistant closure therewith; i

marker Abuoy'l is mounted in a buoy compartment or well 19 vdisposed, 'between superstructure Q-and"A trunk 3. This buoy iiguration, and is provided-with afcentral sleeve 20. A rod 21extends through this f sleeve and provided', at itsupper end, with an vveye 22.V A member 23 is suitably secured upon the lower end of rod 21-,andisproyided, y at its lower end, with an element: 24 of squared cross section. This element fits snugly into a corresponding socket in upper section 25a of a release gear housing 25 suitably secured to a reinforcing plate 26 welded or otherwise suitably secured to theV inner face of the upper portion of hull 1 v`This plate and the hull are provided with registerf ing and downwardly tapering openings -to accommodate the lower portion of member vsu Q3. A shaft 27 is rotatably mounted through @ce 'Iii lower section b of housing 25, and an operating crank 28 is suitably secured upon the lower end of this shaft. A watertight closure is efected about shaft 27 by means of a stuft"- ing box 29. The shaft 27 is held against endwise movement by means of a collar 30 se cured thereon, this collar fitting into a suitable recess in the housing 25. The upper portion of shaft 27 is threaded and screws into the lower end of element 24. This provides means for releasably securing the buoy 18 in its compartment 19 and for holding it seated upon supporting blocks 31 secured upon the outer face of hull 1. Preferably, a plate 32 is secured to float 18, by suitable brackets V33, this plate servingfto cover the upper end of compartment 19 and also forming a continuation of the deck of superstructure 2. As will be noted, the buoy 18 tapers downwardly and the buoy compartment 19 flares upwardly, so that the buoy, when Yreleased, can readily pass upwardly out of the compartment.

A cable 34 is coiled within the lower portion'of compartment 19, beneath the buoy. One end of the cable is provided withan eye member 35 which is suitably secured, as by means of a shackle 36, toV member 23. The other end of the cable is provided with a clevis 37 suitably secured, as Yby a pin 38. to ,eye 9. Chamber 19 is provided, inthe side Vthereof adjacent trunk 3, with an offset forining a channel element 39 extending from the .top to the bottom of chamber or compartment 19. This channel element accommodates the portion of the cable leading from the coil within compartment 19 and eliminates possibility of fouling of the buov by the cable, while also preventing possibility of binding` of the buoy in its compartment due to contact with the cable. In the event of the boat being disabled and submerged, buoy 18 is released by turning shaft 27 in proper direction to screw this shaft out of ele,- ment 24 of member 23. This serves also to raise the buoy slightly oif of the supporting blocks 31 and, when the buoy is released, it

readily rises out of the compartment 19 and floats to the surface, as in Figure 4.

The buoy and the cable provide means for attaching the rescue tank to the cover of the access hatch trunk of the disabled boat. Referring to Figure 2, the rescue tank 40 com- ,prises a central portion 41 and upper and lower heads 42 and 43, respectively, welded or otherwise suitably secured to the central portion. The tank is of circular cross secend of trunk 44 and forms a watertight closure with the cover in a known manner.

A hatch trunk 49 extends through lower head 43 and projects upwardly into tank 40 for a considerable distance. This trunk is provided with an outwardly extending flange 50, spaced a short distance from the lower end of the trunk, and suitably secured, as by riveting, to head 43. A gasket 51 is suitably secured in the lower end of trunk 49 and is disposed to seat upon main cover 4 of trunk 3 of the disabled boat. In this connection, it will be noted that the upper face ofthe outer portion of cover 4, beyond the manhole cover 10, is plane or flat and free from obstructions so that gasket 51 can seat accurately upon cover 4 and, when so seated, will effect a watertight closure therewith, there being suiiicient clearance Within trunk V49 about the manhole cover 10 to permit of opening and closing thereof.

A cover 52 is provided for closing the upperend of trunk 49, this cover being hinged to the trunk at 53; The cover 52 is normally secured in closed position by swing bolts 54, o-r in any other suitable manner. A gasket 55 is mounted in the underface of cover 52 and seats upon the coaming at the upper end of trunkl 49 so as to eect a watertight closure therewith.

A support 56 depends from, and is preferably formed integrally with, cover 52. This support is provided, at its lower end, with an outwardly extending flange 57 to which is bolted, or otherwise suitably secured, a bracket 58. A yoke 59 is rotatably mounted in bracket 58, by means of ball bearings 60 at the upper and the lower ends of the yoke. This yoke carries a. guide sheave 61 which receives cable 34, the axis on which the yoke turns being coincident with the center of the portion of the cable which extends downwardly from the sheave. Y

Trunk 49 is provided, at one side thereof, with an extension 62 which forms, with head 43 and the inner wall of a ballast tank 63 extending about this head, a drum casing. A drum shaft 63il extends transversely of this casing and is rotatably mounted, at one end, in a bearing sleeve 64suitably secured to one side wall 62a of the casing. At its other end, this shaft is rotatably 4mounted in a combined bearing Vand stuffing box structure 65 secured to and extending through the other side wall 62b of the drum casing. This structure 65 provides a. watertight closure about the shaft wherevit extends into the tank from the casing 62. A worm gear 66 is secured uponi shaft 63'a and meshes with a worm 67 secured upon the lower end'of a shaft 68, the lower portion of which is rotatably mounted in brackets 69 secured to wall 62b of the drum casing 62. Shaft 68 is rotatably mounted, adjacent its upper end, through a bearing support 70 which is se- 'ured to one of two brackets Z1, these bracketsbeingseeliredV to the surrounding Wall. Ofi the tank.. A. beveled gear 7-2 is eeeured. upon theelepel." end 0f Shaft 68. and meshesV with. e

beveled gear 'eeeuredupena drive shaft` Y T4 rotatably mounted in suit-able bearings carried by the bracketsv 71. The shaft 741s rotated in a sutablefmamier, as by means of a handwheel secured upon this shaft. A

Cable winding drum Tie keyed upon. .Shaft 6,3@ for rotation therewith,thi s drum being rotated in. either Winding direction 0r i111.- Windng direction by rotation of bendwbeel 7 5 in proper direction. During winding of cable 34 onto and ott of the drum, thisfcable passes over the sheave 61 and rthrough `a downwardly flaring guideelement 5.9a at the4 lower end of yoke 59. This` yoke permitsy swinging movementof the shejave onga vertieal axis to assure proper delivery of thecable to and from the drum.

Afterthe buoy is` released, itrises to the surface, as indicated in Figure 4, andserves to mark the position of the disabled submarine boat. `In effecting rescue of the personnel of' the disabled boat, 13,11 tank 40.1nay

either betowed intoposition or lowered overboard from .a rescue boat. The upper end' of cable 34 is then detached from the buoy and is suitably secured to. one end of a short length or' cable, the other end of which; is.;

permanently secured to the winding drum, this short length ofl cable' being-dead Over the sheave 61 andl downwardly through 'the guide member 59a. The operating crewfor the rescue tank then enter the, tank through the hatch trunk44, the cover 45bllg opened,

after which this cover is secured in closed position. At this time, the ballast'tank may be either partly or` completely fil-led with water to decrease the positive buoyancyofv the tank 40` to. the desired extent. The cable winding drum is then rotated in proper di,-v

rection to wind cable 34 onto such drum, thus pulling the; tank downwardly into such position that the gasket 51 seats upon main cover 4.0i hatch trunk-3 of the disabled boat, asin Figures 2 and 6;. In Figure 5, therescue tank is illustratedas approachingr the disabled boat, a portion of the, cable 34 hav. ing been wound ont-o the drum..4 Due tothe fact that the guide member 59ZL is disposed;

coaXially with trunk 49 of the tank,and eye 9 is disposed centrally of cover 4,- gasket 51 is guided accurately into position tov seat upon cover 4 in concentric relation thereto. After the gasket `51 is seated upon cover 4.,

, the air which isunder pressure in the upper portion of trunk '49 is vented'into tank 40,

by means of a gate valve Z7 disposed in av connection 78 to the upper portion of this trunk.V This relieves the pressure. inthe trunk, after which gasket A51 Vis held firmly pressed upon cover 4, by the pressure of.'

the ivf/eter exerted; upon. the eener and batch @over 45er' thel tank.. .In this manner, Ya watertight closurey is eectedl be;

tween the lower end of trunk and cover otrunk 3. l y After the rescue. tank hasl been properly. seated uponcover 4 of the boat hatch trunk the water in trunk 49 of the tank is blown ed, in a-suitable mannenfor connection to anv airhose from a suitable sourceof supply'ofp compressed air, such as a `rescue boat. 'The pipe 80 isV controlled by `valves 81Iand 81% disposed above and below the connection between this pipe and the flask 79. [Valve 8.1 isnormal'ly closed', the pressurev of the air from fiask79 being sufficient under mostv con,-l

ditions which are liable to be encountered..." il A While l have shownv but a singleask'79, f

anyl vdesired*number of flasks may be mountedv inthe tank 40 and .suitably non;-v nected in a known manner. :The connection between air flask 7 9 and pipe 80 iscontrolled by vtwo valves, 82 and 83, between` which. is

connected an air pipe S7 controlled by a v valve 86.V Valvev 86, like valve 81,y is nor-y mally closed, valves 82Y and 83 being also4 normally closed, valve 81a being vnormally open.. Air pipe 87 opens .atits other end into` trunk 49 adjacent the upper end thereof.v Thev lower portion of ballast tank 63 is connected to trunk 49, adjacentthe` lower endf thereof, by aV connection 89 which includes; two control valves 90 and a sea valve 91,;

which controls admission of water from the.r

sea... Trunk 49 is provided with a passage 923 formed therein and constitutingfa continuar.

tion of; the connection. 89.

ree

After the tank 40 has been seated upon y cover 4 of theboat hatch, trunk, vas described,`

gate valve 77 is opened briefly to vent the air:

from the trunk, and is then closed. Val-yes 90 are v'then opened, valve 91 remaining closed, and valve 86 is opened so as to admit airunder pressure to` the trunk-49` abovefthe water thereinf,` The water 'from trunk 49 is blown. into the ballast tank-63, theair inthistank above thefwater thereiny being; vented;

through. a ventpipe 93. controlled by a j yalve 94,Y Buti' comparatively low pressure 1s required for blowing Athe water out of the trunk 49. y After this operation iscompleted,

but a.V small quantity of. water, Yremains. in the bottom of the trunk, as illustrated in Fig ure?. Coverz52 is then opened, asin Figure 8, and' is turned back into such position that the bracket 5S and associated parts do not obstruct the trunk. Cable 34 is then detached from eye 9 and this eye is screwed out of clevis member 8 permitting the cover lock- "T ing gear to drop into the boat. Nut 14 of the vhook bolt 13 is then loosened and this'bolt is turned into position to release the manhole cover 10, which is then swung into open position as in Figure 8. The men from the disabled boat, then pass through the hatch trunk 3, by means of a ladder 95. `When this has been accomplished, the clevis member is replaced and the eye bolt is screwed tightly into y such member, the lower end of the cable bethe trunk so as to equalize the pressures.V

When admitting water to the trunk 49 from the ballast tank 63, the gate valve 77 is opened so as tov vent the trunk, this valve being closed as soon as the water level in the trunk equals the water level in the ballast tank. When the pressures are equalized, the tank tends to rise, due to its positive buoyancy, and the rate at which the tank rises to the surface is controlled by the rate of unwinding of the cable from the drum. It desired, the water remaining in ballast tank 63 can be blown overboard by admitting air to this tank through pipe 80, the sea Yvalve 91 being opened, after which valve 90 adjacent the ballast tank 63 is again closed. When the tank reaches the surface, cover is opened, as in Figure 10, and the men escape from the tank, through trunk 44, by means of a ladder 96. rhis ladder is connected, at its upper end, and by pin and slot connections 97, to a bracket 98 suitably secured to the head 42 of the tank. llVhen the ladder is in use, its lower end rests upon cover 52, as illustrated. When it is desired to open cover 52, the ladder is raised and is then swung about the connections 97 out of the path of movement of the cover.

Conveniently, the men `entering the tank 4() may stand upon the top of ballast tank 63, which provides a suitable platform for this purpose. Obviously, the boat may be provided with as many access hatch trunks and associated marker buoys as may be desirable or necessary, and the rescue tank may make asmany trips to and from the boat as may be required for eilecting the rescue operation.

Conveniently, the head 42 of the tank is provided with suitably disposed ears 99 for reception of cables 100 for lowering the buoy from a rescue ship and returning it to such Ship ' What I claim isz 1. In combination, a submarine boat hav'-l ing an access hatch trunk and a main cover therefor, said main cover being provided with a manhole, a cover for the manhole removable eXteriorly of the trunk, a buoy exterior of the hull of the boat, means operable from within the hull for releasably securing the buoy to said hull, a cable secured at one end to the manhole cover and having its other end releasably secured to the buoy, a rescue device in the form of a tank provided with a trunk opening through its lower end, the lower end of the tank trunk being adapted to seat upon the upper :tace of the main cover in spaced relation about the manhole cover, a removable cover for the upper end of the tank trunk, means for venting and iiooding the tank trunk, and means operable from within the tank Jfor taking u-p the cable to draw the tank downwardly into position to seat the lower end of the tank trunk upon the main cover of the boat trunk.

2. In combination, a submarine boat having an access hatch trunk and a main cover therefor, said main cover being provided with a manhole and the upper face o'if the cover being flat and smooth, a cover for the manhole, means releasable eXteriorly of the trunk for securing the manhole cover closed, a buoy, means operable from within the hull of the boat for releasably securing the buoy to said hull, a cable secured at one end to the manhole vcover and releasably secured at its other end scribed, a tank provided with a trunk open-V ing through its bottom, a removable cover for the upper end of the trunk, a winding drum, and means operable from within the tank for rotating the drum.

4. In rescue means of the character described, a tank, a trunk opening` through the bottom of the tank and extending upwardly within the same, a removable cover for the upper end of the trunk, cable guiding means carried by the cover and movable into and out of the trunk in the movement of the cover, a winding drum, and means operable from within the tank for rotating said drum;

5. In rescue means of the character described, a tank, a trunk opening through the bottom of the tank, a removable cover for the upper end of the trunk, cable guiding means carried by the cover and mounted for turning movement on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the trunk, said guiding means *j* drum casing, a drum rotatably mounted in.

said casing, means operable from within the tank for rotating said drum, and cable guiding means carried bythe cover and movable therewith, said guiding meansbeing moved into and out of the trunk in the closing and opening'of the cover. n'

7. In rescue means of the character described, a tank, a trunk opening through the bottom of the tank, a removable cover for the upper end of the trunk, said trunk extending upwardly within the tank and being provided with an extension forming with the walls of the tank structure a drum casing, a` drum rotatably mounted in said casing, means operable from within the tank for rotating the drum, a supporting bracket depending from the cover and movable therewith into and out of the trunk in the closing and opening of said cover, a yoke mount-` ed in the bracket for turning movement on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the trunk, said yoke being provided at its lower end with a guide member for reception of a cable passing therethrough, and a guide sheave mounted in the yoke and disposed for reception of a cable passing through the guidel member and over the sheave to the drum.

8. In combination, a submarine boat having an access hatch structure comprising a trunk extending through the hull and a: removable cover therefor, a rescue device-in the form of a tank having a hatch trunk opening centrally through its bottom and adapted to seat upon the boat hatch structure to form a water tight closure therewith, cable winding means carried by and operable from within the tank, a cable windable upon said cable winding means for drawing said rescue device downwardly onto the boat hatch structure, cable guiding means for centering the cable relative to the tank trunk, and means for attaching the lower end of the cable to the cover of the boat trunk at the axial center of the latter. Y v

9. In combination, a submarine boat having an access hatch structure comprising a trunk extending through the hull and a removable cover therefor, a rescue device having cable winding means and adapted to seat upon the boat hatch structurel to form ai water tight closure therewith, and a"`cab1e attached to the axial center of said cover and winda'ble ontol said cable winding means-tor draw-ing said rescue device downwardly lonto saidv boat hatch V,structure incenter'edrel'ation tothe boat'trunkf 10;-, combinatioma submarine boa-t havmg ain? access hatch 'structure comprising-a trunk .extending'through the hull anda' rei movable cover forsaid trunk, and a cable secured' to theaxi'al center of said cover? and adapted .for attachment to a rescue. device for drawing the latter down onto the'boat@ hatch structure in lcentered relation to said hatchtrunk.l n y l 1 A 11. In combinatiom'a submarine boat having. an; access hatch. structure-comprising a trunk extending through the hull `and, arernovable covertherefor, a rescue devicel having means `cooperatin,', withV said-trunk "to: form a water tight closure therewith, and means secured to the cover coaxially' with said trunk and attached to therescue device;

for 4 drawing the latter down onto saidhatch structure. Y v

12;-In` combination, a submarine boat having an access" hatch ,structure com'prisiingfa trunk extending throughv the hull and a main cover' theretor'providedwith a manhole, a cover for said manhole, a rescue device cooperable-wi'th said hatch structure to form 'a water tight closure therewith, and means :at-` ta'ched toY the manhole cover centrally ofthe boat trunk and attached to said rescue device for'pullingthe latter Adown onto the hatch structure in` centered' relation thereto.

In combination, a submarine ,boat havingv an access hatch'structu'reincluding a trunk"extendin'gthrough the hull anda main'vv cover therefor provided-with a* manhole, a removable cover tor said manhole, rescue device adapted. to seat upon said main cover to form' a water tight closure therewithyand means secured tothe center'of said manhole coverrand attachafble to'said rescue' device to pull the latter downwardlyA ontothje" main coverland `position it substantially concentric with the manhole cover.

14. In combination, a submarine boat, an access hatch trunk extending through the hull, a main cover for said hatch trunk prov vided witha manhole, a removable cover for said manhole, a rescue device in the form of a tank having a hatch trunk opening centrally through its bottom and adapted to seat upon the main cover to torma water tight closure therewith, cable winding means carried by-and operable from within the tank, and a cable secured to said manhole cover substantially centrally thereof and windable onto said cable winding means for drawing, the rescuedevice down onto said malncover, andposltionmg it thereon about the manhole latter down into operative relation to the hatch structure.

17. VIn combination, a submarine boat having an access hatch structure comprising a trunk and a main cover therefor provided with a manhole, a cover for the manhole removable exteriorly of the hull, a cable attached at one end to the manhole cover centrally of the trunk, a buoy attachable to the Y other end of the cable and releasable from within the hull of the boat for carrying said other end of the cablevto the surface when the boat is submerged, a rescue device having an entrance member opening through its bottom and adapted to seat upon the hatch structure and form av water tight closure therewith, means for attaching the cable to the rescue device centrally of said entrance member, and cable winding means for drawing the rescue device down onto said hatch structure. 18. In combination, a submarine boat having an accessV hatch structure comprising a trunk and a cover therefor, a cable attached at one end to the cover centrally thereof, a

. rescue device having an entrance member opening through its bottom and adapted to seat upon the hatch structure and form a water tight closure therewith, means for attaching the cable to the rescue device centrally of said entrance member, and cable winding means for drawing the rescue device down onto said hatch structure.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 20th day of August, 1930.

HUGO E. GRIESHABER. 

